Bus or train: which is faster?
The bus wins, and the gap is large. Here is what the official pages say (checked 19 October 2026):
| Direct bus | Train via České Budějovice | |
|---|---|---|
| Journey time | Fastest 2 h 35 min (FlixBus); about 3 h (castle page) | About 4–5 h in total (castle page) |
| Changes | None on direct buses | One, at České Budějovice |
| Last leg | n/a | České Budějovice–Český Krumlov about 45 min |
| Frequency | 8 FlixBus trips a day | Not checked: use the ČD planner |
The Český Krumlov Castle travel page says buses from Prague run "several times a day directly or with change in České Budějovice". It puts the 180 km by bus at about 3 hours, and by train it says "you have to change in České Budějovice (the journey of approximately 4–5 hours)". The page shows no update date, so check the actual train connection for your day in ČD's Můj vlak app before you compare.
The train still makes sense in two cases. One is if you are breaking the trip in České Budějovice anyway. The other is if you hold a ČD all-day ticket: ČD's trip tickets page lists one for one day of travel within a selected region or across the whole country, from CZK 169 per person. That starting price is not broken down by region, and Prague to Český Krumlov crosses several regions, so price the nationwide version in the e-shop before relying on it.
Taking the bus from Prague
FlixBus's Prague–Český Krumlov route page lists 8 trips a day, with the fastest at 2 hours 35 minutes. In the other direction, the Český Krumlov–Prague page shows departures from about 5:30 to 20:00.
Where you board in Prague. FlixBus lists several Prague stops, including Florenc central bus station, Na Knížecí (Ostrovského 34/1), the Main Railway Station and Hradčanská. Its page does not say which of them each Český Krumlov bus uses, so read the stop on your ticket. Note that the Main Railway Station stop moved to Opletalova Street from 3 August 2026 because of construction.
Where you get off. There are two stops in Český Krumlov: the bus station at Nemocniční 586 and Špičák at U Luny 137. Check which one your bus serves before you plan the walk into town.
Fares and luggage. Fares change with demand. When checked, FlixBus's page showed starting fares of about US$11–13 (shown in the visitor's local currency). One carry-on up to 7 kg and one hold bag up to 20 kg are included.
Taking the train
From Prague you change at České Budějovice, and the last leg to Český Krumlov takes about 45 minutes, according to the castle page. ČD sells tickets at ticket offices, from the conductor, online and by phone (ČD ticket overview). We could not read the ČD journey planner while checking this guide, so exact times and fares are not quoted.
Discounts work the same as on any ČD domestic route: children under 6 ride free and ages 6–17 pay 50% on one-way tickets (ČD children's tickets). For groups of 2–19, ČD's one-off group ticket takes 25% off the second passenger and 40% off each passenger after that.
Český Krumlov Castle: tours and prices
The castle is managed by the National Heritage Institute. Its admission page lists 2026 prices (checked 19 October 2026):
| Tour | Adult | Seniors 65+ / youth 18–24 | Children 6–17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route I (Renaissance and Baroque interiors) | CZK 300 | CZK 240 | CZK 90 |
| Route II | CZK 260 | CZK 210 | CZK 80 |
| Baroque Castle Theatre | CZK 400 | CZK 320 | CZK 120 |
| Castle Museum and Tower (self-guided) | CZK 280 | CZK 220 | CZK 80 |
| Castle Garden | Free | Free | Free |
Children under 6 go free on every tour. The Route I page describes a 55-minute tour of up to 45 people through the original Renaissance and Baroque interiors, including St George's Chapel and the Masquerade Hall. The page links to online tickets and a timetable of tour times by day.
What is open in late 2026. The opening hours page and the tours page showed these periods on 19 October 2026:
| Tour | Period | Days and hours |
|---|---|---|
| Route I | until 31 October | Tue–Sun, 9:00–16:00 |
| Baroque Castle Theatre | until 31 October | Tue–Sun, tours at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 |
| Museum and Tower | until 31 October | Daily, 9:00–16:30 |
| Museum and Tower | 1 November–20 December | Tue–Sun, 9:00–15:30 |
| Castle Garden | October | Daily, 7:00–17:00 |
| Route II | No scheduled periods listed | n/a |
Is the day trip worth it?
If you have one free day and want the castle interiors, go before 31 October, choose a Tuesday to Sunday, and take the bus. A family of two adults and two children aged 8 and 12 pays CZK 780 for Route I (2 × 300 + 2 × 90), plus four bus tickets each way. After 31 October the interiors trip shrinks to the Museum and Tower, and the case for a five-hour round trip gets weaker.
For a shorter day, Kutná Hora is about an hour from Prague by train; see our Kutná Hora day trip guide and the day-trip comparison, which weighs the two. To reach Florenc or Na Knížecí from your hotel, see Prague public transport tickets.